February 28: I had to opportunity to drive to southern Colorado with my parents to attend the funeral of my sweet Grandpa Albert. The services were very nice consisted of some wonderful musical numbers and a 21 gun salute, being as Grandpa was a medic in WWII. Before his death, Grandpa had suffered from Alzheimer's for several years, and all I really remembered about him was from my perspective as a tiny little girl. I was thinking about all that I did remember about him at the funeral, and sadly it wasn't much. However, my thoughts came to his spirituality and his joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That act alone greatly affected the lives of my parents, me, my siblings, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, really, the whole Montoya side! Once I'd realized the great blessing this man had brought into the lives of nearly all his posterity, I received a greater understanding of and passion for missionary work and genealogy and temple work.
March 12-17: My best friend Stacey and I decided to go on an adventure to a city that neither of us had been to that would have lots of art, an ocean, and be easy to navigate. So we took off to San Francisco during spring break!!
Alcatraz! We didn't care enough about island prisons to pay the $40 to go.
Smiling at the marina!
Ok, so this trolley is lame and has wheels, but we did ride a real one at night. NOT worth it.
WICKED! Yes, we saw and loved it!Stace and I had a grand time wandering around the piers, Union Square, numerous art galleries, eating delicious bay food and sushi, and just seeing what this city was like. I liked San Fran a lot because it is a pretty relaxed city, although the hills would be suicide with a standard transmission. I was able to drop by a publishing company that I'll be applying for in the fall! I know one of the designers there, and he said I could come in and he'd give me a tour. It was great!
Someday I'll work here.... :)
Someday I'll work here.... :)March 25-29: I along with 16 other students and our adviser went to San Diego the week AFTER spring break, so I got a double dose of beautiful California! We attended a design conference on the campus of the University of San Diego all day for 3 days and spent our evenings on the beach and roaming around town. It was incredibly useful to listen to the speakers to hear what the "real world" aspects of design are and how to better prepare for entering the professional design world. (It's odd that a simple piece of paper (diploma) takes one from being a student to automatically being a professional. Scary!) And of course the ocean was wonderful! Freezing, but grand :)
Y-Conference graphics
Our lovely group of students!
Schmoozing: check. I think they only talked to me cause I looked awesome.
We had spent many months, full days, and countless hours getting this trip in order. Tons of fund raising, endless planning, and long phone calls with hotels all culminated in a trip that really went off flawlessly. *Phew!
So now I'm back at school scurrying to get everything ready for the end of semester. I loved General Conference last weekend and am excited for Easter this weekend!
Y-Conference graphics
Our lovely group of students!
Schmoozing: check. I think they only talked to me cause I looked awesome.
We had spent many months, full days, and countless hours getting this trip in order. Tons of fund raising, endless planning, and long phone calls with hotels all culminated in a trip that really went off flawlessly. *Phew!So now I'm back at school scurrying to get everything ready for the end of semester. I loved General Conference last weekend and am excited for Easter this weekend!